The Larson brothers, who built the first airport in Winnebago County in 1922, taught Clyde Lee how to pilot an airplane in the late 1920s. Lee later became a wing walker, a flying daredevil, and went on to attempt a world record distance flight.

How he did it and what happened can be found in local author Randy Domer’s second book, “Oshkosh: Land of Lakeflies, Bubblers and Squeaky Cheese,” which Domer self-published and released on Saturday, Aug. 1. He will share some of these stories at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Domer researched Lee’s story and many others for his book, which focuses on the people, places and stories in Oshkosh — those who helped shape it long ago as well as those who are currently making their mark.

“I think there’s a lot of people from Oshkosh who don’t know some of these folks and what they’ve accomplished in life,” Domer said. “I tried to find stories that were interesting and maybe the community would like to know more about.”

From Richard Raddatz’s submarine, invented in the late 1800s and tested in the Fox River, to the Larson Brothers, who started the first airport north of Milwaukee, Domer said there’s a lot of depth to Oshkosh that continues today. There is a chapter on All-star Championship Wrestling and WWE wrestler Dylan Postl and another on local historian Clarence “Inky” Jungwirth.

Randy Domer has published two non-fiction books about Oshkosh and will speak about his latest, “Oshkosh: Land of Lakeflies, Bubblers and Squeaky Cheese,” on August 11 at the Oshkosh Public Library.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Randy Domer)

Domer delves into the myths and legends of Oshkosh with a chapter featuring paranormal accounts in the city, including one at New Moon Cafe — or, the Beckwith House Hotel, as it was known in the late 1800s.

Oshkosh history has been written about many times over — Jungwirth has written many works of his own — so Domer said he dedicated a lot of time to find stories people were less likely to have heard before.

As for the title, Domer said he wanted to highlight elements that are unique to the area, but he also wanted it be eye-catching.

“It makes people smile, and that’s what I was looking to do,” he said.

He gives each of the three elements in the title a chapter of explanation, something Janice Dibble, head of reference and adult services at the Oshkosh Public Library, enjoyed so much she finished his book in just a couple of hours.

“I just kept saying ‘one more chapter,’ until 1 in the morning,” she said. “It was so good I couldn’t put it down.”

Domer’s writing style and the variety of subjects he touched on kept her reading, Dibble said. She really enjoyed learning more about every day things she never thought of — like the history of lakeflies, the interview with Jungwirth and the significance behind the “bubbler.”

The library encourages local authors to give presentations, and Dibble said she is excited to have Domer speak again. His first presentation was well attended — she estimates around 80 people — and she is expecting a similar turnout on Aug. 11.

“His (first) book has been checking out from the library since we got it,” she said. “So hopefully people will be looking for his (second) one.”

Born and raised in Oshkosh, Domer said he never aspired to be an author. He returned to Oshkosh after retiring in 2009, and it was then he took an interest in local history.

“I enjoy doing the research because I enjoy learning about it,” he said. “I don’t think much time goes by at all where I don’t learn something new.”

Reach Katy Macek at 920-426-6689 or kmacekalwe@oshkosh.gannett.com; on Twitter @KatherineMacek.